Internal-combustion engine



. w. KLOMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED lUNE I0. 1918.

Cem/bre u for THEOIDORE W. KLOIVIAN, OF FAKK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

terasse.

Application filed June 10, 1918.

To all wim/a t may concern Be 1t known that I, Tirnooonn W. Kno- MAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Park Ridge, 1n the county ofBergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain' newand 'usefullmprovement in Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to engines having a plurality cf cylinders, andmore particularly to the valves controllingthe admission' andv exhaustof such cylinders.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve of the rotary type inwhich the distribution of fuel gas from the carbureter to the severalcylinders shall be uniform, and the cooling ell'eet of such gaseliiciently utilized in lowering the temperature of such valve, and ingeneral, to obviate the diliiculties and avoid the objectionablefeatures usually attending the employment of valves of this type.

rlhe invention consists in certain novel features of construction, andarrangements of ports and passages by which the above objects areattained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

Ilhe accompanying drawings form a part i of this specification and showthe invention as applied. to a four-cylinder engine of the four cycletype.

Figure l is a vertical section taken axially of the cylinders, andpartly in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding horizontal section through the valve casing,showing the valve in plan view, the plane of section being indicated bythe line 2-2 in Fig. l.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are vertical sections, taken on-the line 3--3 inFig. l and partly in elevation, showing the relative positions of thevalve and its ports and passages in each of the four cylinders asconditioned in Fig. l, or may be understood to show one of the cylindersand the valve as conditioned for each of the four cycles successively.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A1, A2, A3 and A4 are the cylinders of the engine arranged verticallyside by side in alinement and preferably in pairs, yeach pair controlledby a cylindrical tubular valve B1 and B2 both coupled to rotate andoperate together as a single valve extending across the top of thecylinders with its axis intersecting the axial lines of the cylindersand inclosed in the cylinder heads A serving as Specification of LettersPatent.

latented Cet. 2l, 1919.

Serial No. 239,088.

the valve casings which are closed at the ends by the valve casingheadsB. A stem or shaft B3 extends through one head B and carries a sprocketwheel and chain B4 by which the valve B1 is rotated from the main shaft,not shown, or other moving part, and the two valves are coupled togetherat B5 to move as one. l

Each valve is hollow and closed at the ends and each has four inletports marked C1, C2, C3 and C4 in one, and C, C, CT and C8 in the other,extending` through the shell of the valve to the interior thereof, andfour exhaust passages D1, D2, D3 and Dt in one,

and D, D, D7 and DS in the other, formed as deep grooves or pockets onthe cylindrical exterior of the shell.

Fuel gas is received through a pipe C from the carburetor, not shown,and delivered through the branches C9 and C10 to the manifolds C11 C12each forming a chamber 01 c2 having a long opening-or port 03 04extending nearly the entire length of each valve and having a width ofapproximately one fourth of the circumfereneelof the valve, so that onequarter of the entire superficies of the valve is bathed in the fuel gasat al( r times when the engine is running. These openings c3 c4 arecrossed by narrow diagonally arranged webs or bridges C13 C13 servingtojoin th margin ofthe openings and stilfen the valve casing.

rlhe inlet ports C1`C2 in the valve B1 are diametrically opposite nearone end, and the inlet ports C3 C* ofthe same valve are oppo site eachother near the other end of the valve and are located at a right angleto the first pair. The inlet ports C5 C3 and C7 CS in the valve B2 aresimilarly arranged but at an a-ngle of forty-five degrees to thecorresponding inlet ports of the valve B1.

@n the interior of the valves are swells corresponding to the spiralexhaust pockets or recesses on the exterior of the valves, permittingsuch pockets to be of sn'l'licient depth i et haust port or chamber isshovvn as located belovv the axial line of the valve7 and the pocketsare sc shaped as to lead from the intake ports of the pair of cylindersinwardly to the exhaust port7 maintaining such communication alternatelyat each end of the valve during the periods in which the pockets arepassing the cylinder ports. The pockets forming each pair are'dianietrically opposite each other and separated the proper distanceeach from the adjacent inlet ports.

The valves rotate in the direction indicated by the ari-ovv in Fig. 3and it vvill be noted t-hat each one-eighth turn of thc valve presentsan inlet port at the openings c3 c* for an intake of fuel gas, and thatsuch presentation takes place alternately7 at the ends of eachvalve-section.

rlhe exhaust pockets or recesses Dl D2 are located at one end of thevalve B1 and D3 D* are at the oppositev end. The pockets D DG and D8occupy corresponding positions on the valve B2. lWhen eitherof the.exhaust pockets is presented to the port at the top of a cylinder itsadvanced end'is presented tol the centrally located exhaust port D9 orD10 inthe valve casing, which ports lead to an exhaust manifold or pipeD11 and thenceescape as usual. There is no position of the valves inwhich the pockets can establish communication between the chambers c1 c2and the exhaust ports D9 D10.

The four cylinders in Fig. l shovv the conditions and relative positionsof the valves and pistons for a complete cycle, and the transversesections in Figs. 3, a, 5 and G shovv the same. rlhe piston in thecylinder A1 is at the mid-stroke dovvnivard and is taking in fuel gasthrough its cylinder port al which lis received from the chamber c1through the inlet port C3, traverses the interior of the valve B1 to theinlet port C1 and thence delivered to the cylinder A1. The oppositeinlet port C2 is sealed by the valve casing as is also the inlet portC4, and the exhaust pock ets Dl D2 and D3 D4 are either sealed or are inidle communication with the chamber c1 or exhaust polt D9, and thecylinder port a2 is sealed by the valve.

The piston of the cylinder A2 is at the end of its upstroke with itscharge of gas fully compressed and ready for ignition.

The valve B2 as before stated is advanced forty-five degrees relativelyto the valve-section B1, and the piston of its cylinder Artis at the endof its downward or intake stroke and beginningto compress; the cylinderport L3 is sealed by the valve B2, the inlet port C5 is sealed by thevalve casing, and the inlet port C is beginning to receive gas from thechamber 02. At the opposite end of the'valve B2, in the cylinder A" thepiston is at the mid-stroke upward driving out the exhaust through thecylinder port a4 and Yexhaust pocket D?, the advanced end of It will benoted that the fuel gas enters the valvesD1 D2 alternatelyv from eachend and tra-verses the interior of each in reaching the cylinder portsat the time of intake; the gas travels alivays the same distancc andunder the same' conditions of area so that short paths to the intake areavoided and the cylinders are each supplied uniformly; and that theinterior surfaces of the valves are bathed in a practically continuouscurrent of cool fuel gas liovving alternately in opposite directionsthrough the valve and distributed uniforn'ily7 serving to maintain alovv temperature.' The exterior of the valves is. cooled by the fuelflowing into and from the chambers c1 c2 in vvhichlapproximately onefourth of the entire surface of each valve is exposed, and the rotationof the valves present neuv surfaces successively.

Lubrication is effected by supplying a Vsuitable lubricant to the fuelgas and is thus delivered in the chambers c1 c2 and distributed vviththe gas over the exposed constantly changingsurfaces of the valves.

ln the arrangement shown having vvo inlet `ports' for each of the fourcylinders and tivo exhaust pockets for each, 'the valve is timed to makeone complete revolution for four revolutions off the crank-shaft,conse-i quently the rate of speed of the valve is low and the advantagesdue to such low valvespeed are attained.

Asmany valves as required may be cou.- pled to rotate together andcontrol the admission and exhaust of a corresponding number of pairs ofcylinders, or the valvesections may be formed in a single casting withpartitions dividing the interior into the desired number of chamberseach having its inlet ports and exhaust pockets.

By employing a single cylinder port both for intake and exhaust and thuseliminating `the separate exhaust port usually required,

the area of valve surface exposed to the pressures of compression andexplosion is correspondingly lessened With acorresponding reduction ofvalve-friction and Wear against the opposite. Wall of the valve casing.

Parts of the engine n'ot specially described may be understood vto be asusual or of any approved construction. Water jackets for the valvecasing and cylinders are shown and may be varied as found desirable.

l; ln an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders set sideby side each having a. cylinder'port, a vrotatable hollow cylindricalvalve having inlet ports leading from the exterior to the interiorthereof and mienne matching to said cylinder ports, arranged to receivefuel-gas through one of said inlet ports, cause such gas to traverse theinterior oi' such valve in direct contact with the 'alls thereo'li, anddeliver such gas through the other of said inlet ports to one of saidcylinder ports.

2. ln an internal combustion engine, a plurality or cylinders set sideby side each having a cylinder port, a rotatable hollowY cylindricalvalve having inlet ports leading from the exterior to the interiorthereorP and matching to such cylinder ports, arranged to receive fuelgas alternately through said inlet ports, cause such gas to traverse theinterior ot' said valve in direct contact with` the 4walls thereo'lialternately in opposite directions, and deliver such gas through saidinlet ports alternately 'te said cylinder ports.

3. in an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders set sideby side each having a cylinder port, a. hollow cylindrical valve closedat the ends and having a radial inlet port at each of said ends leading`from the exterior 'of said valve to the interior thereof, and matchingto such cylinder ports, arranged to receive fuel gas through one of saidinlet ports and deliver such gas after traversing such valve in directcontact with the Walls /thereotl Vthrough the other of said inlet portsto one of said cylinder ports, and means for rotating said valve.

il. ln an internal combustion engine, a

plurality of cylinders each having a cylinder port, a valve casinghaving a Fuel gas chamber therein, a hollou7 cylindrical valve rotatablein said casing, closed at the ends and having a radial inlet `)ort ateach of said ends, said inlet ports arranged to register alternatelywith said, chamber and said cylinder ports, to adinitsuch gasalternately at the ends :et said valve to the interior thereof, causesuch gas to traverse the interior of such valve in direct contact withthe Walls thereof, and deliver such gas alternately to said cylinderports at the oppositc ends ot said valve, and means 'for rotaining saidvalve.

5. ln an internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders set sideby side, each having a cylinder port, a valve casing having a fuel gaschamber therein, a hollow' cylindrical valve rotatable in said casing,said valve closed at the ends and having a radial inlet port at each otsaid ends, said inlet ports arranged to registaL alternately with saidchamber and said cylinder ports, to admit such gas alternately at theends ot said valve to the interior thereof and deliver such gasalternately' to said cylinder ports at the opposite ends of said valve,the latter having exliaust pockets on its exterior arranged to registervvith said cylinder ports, and means for rotating said valve.

we aib G. In an internal combustion engine, a plurality or' cylindersset. side by side, each having a cylinder port, a valve casino' having afuel gas chamber therein, a hollow cylindrical valve rotatable in saidcasing and having inlet ports at its ends arranged to register with saidchamber and with said cylinderports, an exhaust port in said casingIbetween said inlet ports, exhaust pockets on the exterior of said valve,each arranged to register at one end with said cylinder ports and at theother end with said exhaust port, and' means for rotating said valve.

7. ln an internal combustion engine, a

plurality ot pairs ot' cylinders arranged side 80 by side in a singleseries, each cylinder having a cylinder port, a series of hollowcylindrical valves, one for each pair oi cyliuders,. extendedlongitudinally of said series ot cylinders and coupled to rotate as one,and.

each closed at the ends, a easing inclosing said series ot valves andhaving a fuel gas chamber for each pair of cylinders exterior toitsvalve, each of said valves having a radial inlet port near each end,said inlet ports arranged to register alternately with the cylinderports of an adjacent pair of cylinders and admit iuel gas from one ofsaid chambers through one of said inlet ports, cause such gas totraverse the interior of such valve in direct contact With the ivallsthereof, and deliver such gas through the other of said inlet ports tothe cylinder port of the cylinder at theopposite end of said valve, saidseries of valves arranged to deliver such gas successively to theseveral cylinders of the series, and means for rotat ing said series ofvalves.

8. ln an internal combustion engine, a

`plurality Aof cylinders set side by side, each gas chamber in' saidcasino' extendinfr lon i- 110 i D b tudinally of said valve andpartially inclosing it, said inlet ports arranged to registeralternately With said chamber and vWith cylinder ports and adapted toreceive'such gas from said chaniloer at one end of said valve, traversesuch gas through the interior of said valve'in direct contact with theWalls thereoi1 and deliver it .at the other end of said valve to one ofsaid cylinder ports, such gas in such traverse serving to cool theintei'ior or" said valve, and the gas in said chamber serving to coolthe exterior of said valve.

9. rlFhe valvedescrihed comprising a liol lovv cylinder closed at theends and having near each end a radial inletport. tor fuel ugas receivedfrom the exterior of said valve, and pockets on the exterior of saidvalve near its opposite ends, having one end of each pocket incircumferential alinement with said inlet ports and the other end ofsaid pockets advanced circuniferentially and extended longitudinally ofsaid valve to coincidence on a circumferential zone on said valvebetween said inlet ports.

l0. The valve described comprising a hol'- loW cylinder closed at theends and having near each end a pair of oppositely located radial inletports for fuel gas received from the exterior' of said valve, the inletports at one end advanced circunifeientially relatively to the others,and pairs of exhaust pockets on theexterioi' of said 'alve, arrangedoppositely to each other diametrically and the pair at one end of saidvalve advanced eircuinferentially relatively to such pair at theopposite end of said valve, one end of. each of said pockets inCircuniferential alinenient ivith the adjacent pair of inlet ports, andthe other end of each of said pockets advanced circunif'eicntially andextended longitudinally7 of said valve to coincidence on acircumferential Zone on said valve between said pairs of inlet ports. A

l1. I'n an internal conibustion engine, a pair of cylinders arranged'side by side each having a single cylinder port serving both for intakeand exhaust, a hollow cylindrical valve extended longitudinally of saidpair and closed at the ends, a easing inclosing said valve and having afuel gas chaniber exterior to said valve, and an exhaust port, saidvalve having oppositely located radial inlet ports at each end andexhaust pockets on the exterior of said valve between adjacent inletports, the lat-ter arranged to reg'- istci' with said cylinder ports anddeliver fuel gas to such cylinders through said inlet ports and theinterior of said valve, said' pockets arranged to register With saidcylinder ports at one end of said pockets and advanced circumferentiallyand extended longitudinally of said valve at the other end of saidpockets, to register yvitli said exhaust port, and means for rotatingsaid valve.

In testiniony that I claini the invention above set forth I affix inysignature.

THEODORE YV. KLOMAN.

